The Mishna recites how G-D’s presence is amid those who study Torah. However the MAHARAM AL-SHAKAR ZT’L ZY’A observes the cited proof texts show a relationship between the number of participants and the intensity of G-d’s presence.

The proof text brought to demonstrate that even a solitary Torah student merits the D-vine Presence visiting and bestowing blessing appears to be taken completely out of context. The Second half of Shemoth 20:21” . . . [I]n all places where I cause my name…

Continue

The Late Slonimer Rebbe ZT’L ZY’A in Netivoth Shalom wonders what distinguishes this Mishna from How Rebbe began this Chapter “ . . . which is the upright path one should clarify [for living one’s life]”? The Netivoth Shalom explains Rebbe was offering guidance to the populace at large. Whereas this Mishna is an exchange between Rabban Yochanan ben Zackai and his most elite students. Rabban Yochanan was asking what character trait did you cultivate as a means of obtaining your spiritual…

Continue

This Mishna at first glance seems to offer a simple lesson about the importance of being a role model and how one influences others. This Mishna is cited in Yoma 87a explaining that it would be inappropriate for one’s students to enter Gan Eden, paradise and their Teacher, the one who raised them to spiritual heights should wind up languishing in Geheinom. Psalms 16:10 “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will you suffer your pious one to see the pit.” The Marasha ZT’L ZY’A notes…

Continue

Rabbi Akiva’s teaching is remarkable in how it is contrary to one would expect. Generally the Rabbi’s lesson is positive describing those things which are axiomatic to one’s status as a human being or as a Jew being the source of joy in one’s life. Rabbi Akiva was the scion of converts and did not begin to learn Torah until he was Forty. As an unlettered shepherd The future leader was so hostile to scholars that if he encountered one he would bite him. (see Pesachim 49b, Ketuvoth 62b-63a ).…

Continue

Yehudah Ben Taimah’s teaching is considered a fundamental articulation of Jewish values. Rabbi Ya’akov ZT’L ZY’A Author of the Tur begins his codification of Jewish law by quoting this Mishna.

A number of things just leap off the page when reading the Mishnah. Why use animals as…

Continue

The expectation that certain behaviors will generally produce certain results is an intuitive part of the human psyche. The notion of things happening randomly is generally treated as something unsettling. The conundrum of randomness is felt most acutely when one believes in G-D’s providential involvement with His creation. The expectation is that one’s behavior to the degree it conforms to G-D’s…

Continue

Avoth D’ Rabbi Natan (Chapter 22) discusses this Mishnah .The relationship between the intellect, character and behavior is fascinating as one can be quite clever but reckless or capable of comprehending and conceiving of the most sublime of concepts and solve the most elusive of problems while engaging in the most base of behaviors.…

Continue

Rabbi Eliezer’s teaching is curious. How is it read? Was the Rabbi making several statements or a single piece of interrelated instruction.

The trend of commentaries seem to view the Mishnah as a solid piece of advice. Rabbi Nachman of Breslev…

Continue

Avtalyon’s ZT’L ZY’A statement is fascinating as it is obvious. Certainly one teaching Torah should take care to transmit one’s lessons in a faithful manner. Failing to do so and leaving one’s lessons ambiguous allowing one’s students to draw conclusions contrary to moral and mores of Judaism would be a recipe for exile, for a distortion in the chain of transmission stretching from…

Continue

G-D the Mishnah teaches has ownership over five things, Torah, Heaven and Earth, Avraham Avinu A’H ,The Jewish Nation and The Holy Temple.,. This is perplexing and simply cannot be taken at face value How could one claim any limit on G-D’s dominion over His creation? Therefore, to be a kinyan, an acquisition of G-D’s implies a special relationship.



The word Kinyan denotes ownership, exclusive control or as Rabbi Yossef Yavetz ZY’A suggests a kinyan is a profound connection, one of… Continue

Four categories are identified among those who attend the Beit HaMedrash, the place dedicated for Torah Study and prayer. There is one who goes to the Beit Medrash but does not learn, he receives reward for going. The second is one who learns in solitude at home and does not attend the actual Beit Medrash, he receives reward for his learning. The person considered pious both attends and learns in the Beit HaMedrash. Whereas the fourth who nether attends the Beit HaMedrah or learns Torah is… Continue

Hillel saw a skull floating in the water. Hillel saw more than a tragedy worthy of empathy. Hillel saw the workings of Providence. Hillel knew things do not just happen.



If someone drowned there is a reason why. Even more, That reason which put the skull in the water is connected with a process. The victim came to such an end because he had drowned others. Hillel further observed that whoever drowned this fellow would be drowned themselves.



Hillel’s teaching taken at face… Continue

Events , especially major happenings deserve preparation. There was no more monumental event in the course of human experience than the Law Giving on Mt. Sinai on Shavout. Receiving the Torah made G-D’s will accessible to humankind possible and the birthright of all Jewry. To prepare for this .auspicious holiday a collection of Tanaic teachings that extol the virtues of Torah study are read as a”sixth” chapter to Pirkei Avot and is called Perek Kinyan Torah, [the]Chapter on Acquiring the… Continue

There is an almost universal custom to eat a last meal during the waning hours of Passover. Some follow the explanation of the Vilna Gaon ZT’L ZY’A that this last meal to a last opportunity to eat Mazto in fulfillment of a Torah commandment. Chassidim some call this meal the Baal Shem Tov’s meal others principally Chabad call the concluding passover meal Mashiach’s Seuda.



The reason given is the theme of the day is dedicated to Mashiach as it is content of the day’s Haftorah. Further… Continue

Rabbi Nechunyah teaches that humanity’s independence is very limited. People’s lives are circumscribed by powerful outside forces. The positive, empowering aspect is one can choose which type of powerful force one is subject to. However, it is inescapable each person is subject to a yoke, something beyond oneself.



The choices are the Yoke Of Torah or the Yoke Of Government and Livelihood. Rabbi Ovadia Bartenuera ZY’A defines Yoke Of Government and Livelihood as the burden officialdom… Continue

Rabbi Yehuda ben Tabi’s exhortation that one should not arrange judgment. The Tiferth Yisrael ZY’A on the Mishna describes an advisor who assists a litigant in organizing his testament for greatest effect. While not lying outright, person spoken of is so deft at manipulating facts to advance someone’s cause so that what results is not a lie but not quite the truth. Maimonidies’ takes this theme a step further, the concern is that the arranging facts goes past assisting one in advocacy to… Continue

Rabbi Meir’s proclaiming “Whoever studies Torah for its own sake merits many things.” appears as a preface all that follows. However, the text says that ” . . . not only this, but the whole of existence coming in to being is worthwhile for one who learns Torah for its own sake ” implying the “many things” one merits is something separate.



Torah Study for its own sake lies as the lodestone of the many things and everything else the Mishna lists. The Midrash Rivash Tov quoting Sefer… Continue

Rabbi Yishmael appears to be teaching that if one merely sees Torah as an academic discipline, something to study and teach one will be blessed with the ability and opportunity to study and teach. However, one who approaches Torah from the point of view that Torah exists on a level that surpasses its intellectual depth. Torah is what animates every movement in one’s life. Consequently, one who adopts this second approachl is blessed not just to learn and teach but also have the opportunity to… Continue